Label strip feeder

ABSTRACT

A feeder for advancing a label strip in increments equal to one label width or multiple thereof to a knife mechanism where the strip is cut into individual labels. The feeder includes a reciprocal driver adapted on the forward stroke thereof to engage the label strip and advance the strip one increment, the strip having successive perforations for this purpose. A one-way brake to prevent movement of the strip on the return stroke of the drive is provided. The driver rides in a track which is both movable and tiltable to accommodate various strip materials and thicknesses. An adjustable cover spaced opposite the driver permits further adjustment for changed strip materials and thicknesses while enabling the driver during the feed stroke to arch the strip and discourage buckling of the strip.

United States Patent Artelt, Jr.

[451 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] LABEL STRIP FEEDER [72] inventor: Herbert C. Artelt, Jr., Wildwood, 111.

[73] Assignee: Xerox Corporation, Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 79,971

[52] U.S.Cl... .....226/65, 226/147 511 1nt.Cl ..B65h 17/36 [58] Field ofSearch ..226/158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 226/163,164,165,166,167, 151,149,150, 64, 65, 66, 62

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,856,186 10/1958 Weymouth ..226/151 3,310,211 3/1967 Surber et a1. 226/64 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-James J. Ralabate, Donald F. Daley and Frederick E. McMullen [5 7] ABSTRACT A feeder for advancing a label strip in increments equal to one label width or multiple thereof to a knife mechanism where the strip is cut into individual labels. The feeder includes a reciprocal driver adapted on the forward stroke thereof to engage the label strip and advance the strip one increment, the strip having successive perforations for this purpose. A oneway brake to prevent movement of the strip on the return stroke of the drive is provided. The driver rides in a track which is both movable and tiltable to accommodate various strip materials and thicknesses. An adjustable cover spaced opposite the driver permits further adjustment for changed strip materials and thicknesses while enabling the driver during the feed stroke to arch the strip and discourage buckling of the strip.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMM IQIZ 3.652.001

SHEEIIUFIJ I INVE/VTUR HERBERT C. ARTELT JR.

ATTORNEY LABEL STRIP FEEDER This invention relates to a label strip feeder, and more particularly, to a label strip feeder designed to handle various strip materials and thicknesses.

The use of labels in the form of a continuous strip or sheet necessitates that some means such as a guillotine be provided to cut the strip into individual labels. This in turn requires a mechanism to reliably advance or feed the correct length of strip to the cutting means. Most commercial installations, however, are designed to handle four or five row label strip of the type generated by computers. On the other hand, the smaller, one label row strip, which is not computer generated efiiciently, has been relegated to smaller commercial shops not having computer access, or for special uses. Nevertheless, to accommodate the one row strip, most larger installations provide a changeover mechanism to convert the label strip feeder over to smaller size strip. However, changing the larger strip feeder back and forth between the smaller one row strip and the larger multi-row strip is time consuming, requiring shutdown of the system during the changeover process. At the same time, the user of one row strip may be forced to buy or lease a larger capacity strip feeder than his needs require.

With the advent of an electrostatic label printer making it commercially attractive to generate one row label strip from low cost typed masters, the need for a high speed, reliable and relatively inexpensive feeder for such strip is more keenly felt.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved label strip feeder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reciprocating feeder for use with one row label strip having feeder direction adjusting means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved strip feeder having a strip braking device to prevent movement of the strip during the return stroke of the feeder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reciprocating strip feeder mounted in a track which is adjustable both for level and tilt to permit the degree of feeder projection and/or angle of feeder movement to be matched with the thickness and material of the particular strip being fed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide, in combination with a label strip cutter, an adjustable strip feeder for incrementally feeding the strip one label length at a time to the cutter.

This invention relates to an apparatus for incrementally advancing a label strip having a succession of equally spaced driving perforations, there being at least one driving perforation for each label, the combination comprising: a movable feeder having at least one drive pin projecting therefrom adapted on movement of the feeder in one direction to engage an adjoining one of the strip perforations and advance the strip in the one direction; means for moving the feeder back and forth through a stroke substantially equal to the label width whereby to advance the strip one label width with each stroke of the feeder; braking means to prevent movement of the strip during the return stroke of the feeder; track means for guiding the feeder; and means for controlling the position of the track means so as to permit the path followed by the feeder drive pin to be adjusted for optimum engagement with strips of various thicknesses and materials.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the ensuing description and drawings in which: 1

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing schematically a label supply system for a labeling or addressing machine incorporating the label strip feeder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the label strip feeder of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the label strip feeder of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of thelabel strip feeder of the present invention taken along lines 4-4 in FIG.-3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the label strip feeder of the present invention taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings there is shown the label strip feeder, designated generally by the numeral 10 of the present invention. As will appear, feeder 10 serves to incrementally advance label strip 12 one label width at a time to knife 16 where the strip is cut into individual labels 13. The labels 13 may then be transferred to the transfer wheel 17 of a suitable article labeling or addressing machine (not shown). Transfer wheel 17 may serve to transfer the label 13 directly onto the articles being labeled or wheel 17 may serve to imprint the label information only onto the articles in the manner known to those skilled in the art. Alternately, labels 13 may be stored for future use.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the label strip 12 comprises a series of labels 13 arranged side by side in a single row, the strip 12 being conveniently supplied in the form of a roll 14, suitably supported for turning movement by shaft 20. It is understood that suitable braking means (not shown) may be provided to prevent roll 14 from overrunning during unwinding of strip 12 therefrom. Label strip 12 is perforated at spaced points 21 along its length to enable the sprocketed unwind wheel 24 and the reciprocating pin or claw 37 of feeder 10 (seen in FIG. 2) to incrementally advance strip 12 as will appear more fully herein. Preferably, Preferably, perforations 21 are spaced one label width apart, with the perforations 21 being located between adjoining labels to reduce any unsightliness or matting that might be caused by the presence of perforations in the label proper itself.

Unwind wheel 24, which is suitably supported for rotation by shaft 23, carries a series of radially projecting pins or sprockets 18. Sprockets 18 mate with and engage perforations 21 in strip 12 to provide driving contact between wheel 24 and strip 12. Shaft 23 is rotated in the direction shown by the solid line arrow from a suitable power source (not shown) through clutch 28, shaft 29, drive belt 30, and drive roller pair 26. To maintain driving contact between sprockets 18 and perforations 21 in strip 12, a pair of arcuate guides 25 spacedly overlay unwind wheel 24. Guides 25 are each apertured at 25 to accommodate drive roller pair 26.

To assure requisite tensioning on strip 12 during unwinding thereof from supply roll 14, tension roller 27 is provided upstream of wheel 24. Roller 27 rides on strip 12 to help assure the necessary driving engagement of strip 12 with unwind wheel 24 as strip 12 is unwound from supply roll 14 with resultant reductions in supply roll diameter. Shaft 29 of tension roller 27 is driven through clutch 28 from a suitable power source as described heretofore.

To control the supply of strip 12 to feeder 10, a control loop is provided at 33 with photocell type sensor 31 to sense changes in loop size. A light source 32 is provided opposite sensor 31 and on the other side of loop 33. Sensor 31 controls, through suitable circuitry (not shown), operation of clutch 28, sensor 31 serving to engage clutch 28 and drive both wheel 24 and tension roller 27 in the direction shown by the solid line arrow whenever the supply loop 33 rises above the line between light 32 and sensor 31. A suitable timer (not shown) may be provided to disengage clutch 28 following a predetermined interval to limit loop size.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, strip feeder 10 includes a relatively large plate-like base 35 over which strip 12 rides en route to knife 16 and transfer wheel 17. A slot like opening 36 is provided in base 35, slot 36 extending in the direction of strip movement to accommodate feeder claw 37 as will appear. Base 35 is suitably supported on a frame (not shown) which may comprise part of the labeling or addressing machine (not shown) associated with feeder 10. Alternately, a separate table support may be provided for base 35.

A plate-like cover 39 is provided above base 35, cover 39 cooperating with base 35 to form a slot-like passage 40 through which the label strip 12 is drawn enroute to knife 16 and transfer wheel 17 as will appear. A slot-like opening 41 is provided in cover 39, opening 41 being substantially the same size as and opposite to, opening 36 in base 35 to accommodate feeder claw 37. Spacers 42, which are preferably formed from a suitable resilient material such as neoprene, are provided between cover 39 and base 35 adjacent the edge portions thereof.

In order to accommodate various thickness strip material, an adjustable holddown and tension mechanism is provided for cover 39. The tension mechanism includes a spring-like latch plate 45 supported for limited sliding movement on cover 39 by means of screw and slot means 47, 48 respectively. Latch plate 45, which is arranged to move toward and away from a lock member 46, has an upstanding latch 45' which cooperates with the undercut portion 46 of lock member 46 to hold cover 39 in position. The lock member 46 itself is suitably secured to base 35. A spring 49 between cover 39 and latch plate 45 serves to bias the cover 39 downwardly toward base 35. As can be understood, spring 49 works through latch 45' and lock member 46 to generate a downward thrust on cover 39, the effective force of which may be varied through adjustment of latch plate 45 relative to lock member 46. As the downward thrust on cover 39 is varied, the degree of compression of spacers 42 is is changed to vary the effective size of strip passage 40.

Feeder claw 37 consists of an upstanding rod-like element supported by a driving member 50, the top of claw 37 being inclined downwardly at 37 in the direction of the claw return stroke (the direction indicated by the dotted line arrow in FIG. 2) to facilitate slipping or sliding of claw 37 along strip 12 during the return stroke of claw 37. Driving member 50 is generally L-shaped with the lower claw supporting leg thereof extending transversely underneath base 35. The top of claw 37 is adapted during movement thereof, to project through the opening 36 in base 35, into the passage 40 and into or through opening 41 in cover 39 to permit claw 37 to engage strip 12 as will appear.

The leg portion 50' of driving member 50 projects upwardly throughslot 51 in base 35 and carries a generally U-shaped journal bracket 52 secured thereto. Bracket 52 is slidably supported on journal rod 53. Rod 53 is supported on base 35 so as to extend in a longitudinal direction generally paralleling the path of movement of strip 12 through passage 40. As will appear, bracket 52 rides back and forth on rod 53.

The lower leg of driving member 50 carries a ball-like bearing 54 at the extremity thereof adapted to ride in slot-like track 55. Driving member 50 is preferably formed from a relatively flexible material such as spring steel to accommodate raising, lowering or tilting of track 55 as will appear.

A feeder drive shaft 46 is provided, shaft 56 being driven by suitable motor means (not shown) to operate both feeder and knife 16 as will appear. Feeder drive shaft 56 carries a crank arm 58 pinned at 59 to connecting rod 60. Rod 60 is in turn pinned at 61 to journal bracket 52. As will be understood, rotation of drive shaft 56 serves to turn crank 58 which in turn slides bracket 52 back and forth on journal rod 53 to reciprocate driving member 50 and feeder claw 37.

Track 55 is formed from a part having a slot-like recess 60 in the wall thereof facing driving member 50, recess 60 extending in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of strip 12. Ball bearing 54 on driving member 50 rides in recess 60. Track 55 has threaded openings 62 adjacent opposite ends thereof within which threaded control shafts 64 are disposed. As will appear, control shafts 64 function to raise, lower, or tilt track 55 and hence vary both the ultimate penetration of claw 37 into passage 40, and the relative angle therebetween.

A U-shaped support bracket 65 is provided on the outside of track 55, the upper leg of bracket 65 being secured to base 35, while the lower leg 65 thereof projects below track 55. Control shafts 64 project through threaded openings 62 in track 55 and are journaled in leg 65' of bracket 65. Suitable hand knobs 67 may be provided to enable control shafts 64 to be turned to adjust the position of track 55.

As will be understood, turning both control shafts 64 will raise or lower track 55, depending upon the direction in which shafts 64 are turned. If only one control shaft is turned, track 55 is effectively tilted. Where both control shafts 64 are turned in unison and in the same direction, both ends of track 55 are raised or lowered (depending on the direction of shaft are rotation) together and the tilt or angle of track 55 remains generally the same. Where control shafts 64 are rotated simultaneously but in opposite directions, tilting movement of track 55 is accelerated.

By arranging track 55 for raising, lowering, and/or tilting movement as aforedescribed, the path of movement of claw 37 relative to strip 12 may be adjusted to raise or lower claw 37, and/or vary the angular relationship between the path of movement of claw 37 and the path of movement of strip 12 through passage 40 to enable feeding of different thickness strips and/or different strip materials to be optimized. It is understood that the relative resiliency of bracket 50 enables adjustment of track 55 within the limits herein contemplated within adverse affect on the joumaling mechanism for driving member 52.

Knife 16 includes a movable knife member 70 with stationary cutting surface 74 therebelow. Knife member 70 is pivotally supported for swinging movement by means of pin 71. As will be understood, knife member 70 cooperates with the cutting surface 74 on downward swinging of knife member 70 to shear or cut strip 12 thereacross. A knife return spring 75, which is secured to a suitable frame part 38, biases knife member 70 upwardly. An adjustable stop 76 limits upward movement of knife member 70 under the influence of spring 75.

Feeder drive shaft 56 carries an operating cam 78 thereon. An arm 79, suitably pinned to the frame (not shown) at 80, has follower roller 81 at one end thereof arranged to ride on cam 78. The opposite end of arm 79 rests on knife member 70. With rotation of drive shaft 56 and cam 78 thereon, arm 79 oscillates. back and forth about pin 80 once during each revolution of shaft 56 to drive knife member 70 downwardly and shear strip 12.

To forestall any tendency for the label strip 12 to move backward during the return stroke of feeder claw 37, a brake is provided for strip 12. As best seen in FIG. 2, brake 85 includes a pair of spaced supports 86 on cover 39 with cross shaft 87 journaled therebetween. The portion of cover 39 below shaft 87 isapertured at 89. A braking roller 88 is eccentrically mounted on cross shaft 87 so that the periphery thereof projects through aperture 89 and into physical contact with the strip 12 therebelow.

As strip 12 is advanced by claw 74, any braking efiect of roller 88 is negated by the eccentric deposition of roller 88 on shaft 85. Whenever strip 12 tends to move backwards, normally during the return stroke of feeder claw 37, braking roller 88 is urged into a counterclockwise direction about shaft 87 into pressure contact with the strip 12 therebelow to prevent strip 12 from moving backwards.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structure disclosed, it is not confined to the details set forth; but is intended to cover such modifications, or changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for incrementally advancing a label strip having a succession of equally spaced driving perforations, there being at least one driving perforation for each label, the combination of,

a movable feeder having at least one drive pin projecting therefrom adapted on movement of said feeder in one direction to engage an adjoining one of said strip perforations and advance said strip in said one direction;

means for moving said feeder back and forth through a stroke substantially equal to said label width whereby to advance said strip one label width with each stroke of said feeder;

braking means to prevent movement of said strip during the return stroke of said feeder;

track means for guiding said feeder; and

means for controlling the position of said track means so as to permit the path followed by said feeder drive pin to be adjusted for optimum engagement with strips of various thicknesses and materials.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said controlling means comprises means to selectively raise, lower, or tilt said track means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said track means includes a slot-like journal extending in a direction substantially parallel to the path of said strip advance;

said feeder including a bearing support adapted to ride in said track means slot-like journal;

said controlling means including adjustable support means for said track means selectively operable to raise, lower, or tilt said track means journal whereby to vary the operating height of said feeder drive pin and the angle between the path followed by said drive pin relative to said strip.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means forming a passage for said strip, said feeder drive pin being arranged to project into said passage during at least a portion of said drive pin movement; and

means for adjusting the size of said passage to accommodate changes in strip thickness and material.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said passage forming means includes a base across which said strip is advanced, a cover above said base, and compressible spacer means separating said cover from said base to form said passage,

said adjusting means including means to control the compressive force on said cover whereby to vary the size of said passage.

I! i I 4 i 

1. In an apparatus for incrementally advancing a label strip having a succession of equally spaced driving perforations, there being at least one driving perforation for each label, the combination of, a movable feeder having at least one drive pin projecting therefrom adapted on movement of said feeder in one direction to engage an adjoining one of said strip perforations and advance said strip in said one direction; means for moving said feeder back and forth through a stroke substantially equal to said label width whereby to advance said strip one label width with each stroke of said feeder; braking means to prevent movement of said strip during the return stroke of said feeder; track means for guiding said feeder; and means for controlling the position of said track means so as to permit the path followed by said feeder drive pin to be adjusted for optimum engagement with strips of various thicknesses and materials.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said controlling means comprises means to selectively raise, lower, or tilt said track means.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said track means includes a slot-like journal extending in a direction substantially parallel to the path of said strip advance; said feeder including a bearing support adapted to ride in said track means slot-like journal; said controlling means including adjustable support means for said track means selectively operable to raise, lower, or tilt said track means journal whereby to vary the operating height of said feeder drive pin and the angle between the path followed by said drive pin relative to said strip.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means forming a passage for said strip, said feeder drive pin being arranged to project into said passage during at least a portion of said drive pin movement; and means for adjusting the size of said passage to accommodate changes in strip thickness and material.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said passage forming means includes a base across which said strip is advanced, a cover above said base, and compressible spacer means separating said cover from said base to form said passage, said adjusting means including means to control the compressive force on said cover whereby to vary the size of said passage. 